Pocket-firearm.



L. L. ROGERS.

POCKET FIREARM.

APPLlCATlON FILED SEPT-23, 1914.

1,173,464. Patented Feb. 29,1916.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH to" WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEO LOUIS ROGERS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'IO EDMUND C. MOORE,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

POCKET-FIREARM.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEO LoUIs RoGERs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Pocket-Firearms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My present invention is an improved pocket fire-arm, intended to be suitable for pocket use and preferably is made of a size similar to that of the ordinary penknife, and may be combined with knife blades to give the appearance of a pocket knife.

Among the objects of the invention are to produce a pocket fire-arm which will be small, compact, efiicient and capable of pocket use; which will be economical to manufacture and yet strong and serviceable; and which will eliminate all objectionable projecting portions heretofore present in ocket fire-arms of this class.

A further feature of the present invention and one which renders my improved pocket fire-arm of practical use, resides in the constructi on whereby the tire-arm may be aimed with a substantial degree of accuracy at a target or other object which it is desired to hit. Heretofore in the construction of pocket fire-arms of this tvpe, particularly those built as a combined fire-arm and penknife, it has been impossible to use the firearm with any degree of accuracy'as far as aiming it, but in my present improvement I have eliminated this difficulty and have produced a fire-arm capable of being aimed and fired with accuracy by one hand only of the user. This particular feature is of special value in as small a fire-arm as that of the type herein shown, and the construction permitting aiming and firing without distorting such aim is of great value in actual usage.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved pocket firearm which will be free of objectionable hinges, weak construction, difficulties of firing, and the like, and instead, to provide a pocket fire-arm which is simple to fire, without expensive cased sides, hinges, slots, or the like, and which may be quickly stamped out and assembled with its sides and easing substantially like that of present pocket knife construction,

Specification of Letters E'atent.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

Application filed September 23, 1914. Serial 0. 863,189.

Other objects of the invention, details of construction, and novel combinations of parts will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the combined fire-arm and pocket knife with the top casing removed; Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the spring and catch; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the trigger and pivot therefor; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the fire-arm showing the firing lever in position to engage the trigger; Fig. 5 is a similar view in cross section showing the firing lever partially depressed without the knife blades attached; and Fig. 6 is a similar cross sectional view, also without the knife blades attached, showing the firing lever released from the trigger after the firearm has been discharged.

While it is optional to make a fire-arm of. this type in combination with the knife blades of a pocket knife, I prefer to use such a combination and to also make the entire apparatus of the usual size and dimensions of a pen knife, as well as having 1111c casing of the same general size, type and appearance. Different sizes can be made when desired.

As herein illustrated, I utilize the cus tomary form, size and style of sides 1 and 2 of a knife blank, and also a casing 3 forming the top and bottom and bent around one end, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The partition 4 between which partition and the sides 1 the knife blades 5 and 6 are positioned, is of usual construction and is held to the side 1 bv the bolts 7 and 8 through the knife blades 5 and 6 respectively, as is Customary. Between the partition 4 and the other side 2 a block 9 and bolt 10 at one end and a block 11 and bolt 12 intermediate the sides but near the other or free end, are provided, properly spaced to receive the barrel of the fire-arm and the firing mechanism, all c0nstituting a pocket-knifepistol of novel construction. Within the space between the partition 4 and the outer side 2 is pivotally mounted the barrel 13 by a bolt 1a, which bolt extends preferably through the entire solid part of the barrel below the bore for the cartridge. The block 11 is bored centrally to receive a firing pin 15, which firing Pia is m t as. a l ie lawk -"S e block is of a size in cross section to fit snugly between the partition 4 and side 2 and to slide therein, the sides, casing, and partition constituting sliding bearings thereor. against the end block 9 and the end of the sliding block 16 opposite to that carrying the firing pin 15, and is arranged to actuate the sliding block and firing pin to discharge a cartridge held in the bore of the barrel 13 when the block is moved against the tension of said spring and then released.

To obtain the desired sliding movement of the block 16 and firing pin, 1 form said block with a central slot therein adapted to receive a trigger 18 pivoted at 19 in the block. a small spring 20 fitted within a recess 21 in said block, and adiacent one end of the trigger 18 and is adapted to bear thereon, the other end of said lever being forked at 22 and 23 as illustrated. A lever 24 pivoted at 25 in the fixed casing is provided to actuate the sliding block 16 against the tension of the spring 17 and to first engage and then release the trigger 18 and constitute the firing means for the device. This lever has its handle portion extending upwardlv throu h a slot 26 in the side 2 of the device. ith the lever 24 at rest, as shown in Fig. 6, after the cartridge has been discharged. the le er is folded down snugly against the outside 2 of the handle. WVhile in this position the barrel 13 may be rocked on the pin 14, the old shell removed, a new cartridge inserted, and the barrel repositioned. Then the handle 24 is raised as shown in Fig. 4, the spring 20 actuating the trigger 18 to force the prong 23 into engagement with a notch 27 in the end of the lever. The lever 24 is then compressed by a simple movement of the thumb or hand and the trigger 18 and its attached slide 16 are forced a ainst the tension of the spring 17 e. to the left viewing the drawings, withdrawing the firing pin 15 until the continued movement of the lever 24 swings the lower portion of said lever and the notch 27 out of engagement with the prong 23 of the trigger when the trigger and slide are released and the spring 17 forces the firing pin to the right to discharge the cartridge. To increase the compactness of construction 1 form a slot 28 in the partition 4 into and through which the trigger 18 may move during the retraction of the slide 16, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

Anv suitable catch or look may be utilized to hold the barrel 14 in longitudinal position, but I prefer to employ a catch concealed within the casing, to eliminate exterior catches, or the like, which are objectionable in a pocket fire-arm of this type. Asillustrated in Fig. 2, the catch 29 is held bv a pin 30 in the block 11. the catch fitting within a recess 31 provided therefor and A coiled spring 17 is adapted to bear having its end extended to overlap the pivot 14 and an emptv shell removed or a cartridge inserted. To retain the catch in proper position, a leaf spring 35 is fitted. in the catch and extends downwardly to bear on the inner surface of the partition 4 as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the sliding block 16 being provided with a longitudinal recessed portion 36 to give room for the spring 35 and leave it unaffected during the sliding movement of said block. The sliding block 16 is also provided with a recess 37 to provide clearance for the fixed pin 25 holding the lever 24, as clearly shown in the drawings, so that the sliding movement of the block 16' will not be interrupted by either the pin 25 or the leaf spring 35 as just explained.

The operation of my improved fire-arm has already been explained, the user being enabled to instantly press the pin to permit the barrel to be swung on its pivotal bearing, insert a cartridge, snap the barrel back in place, and then raise the lever, thus having the fire-arm ready to be discharged. The user is enabled to hold the device thus ready to be discharged in one hand, and in fact to hold the same entirely concealed from View, and is prepared to aim the same and to dis charge the fire-arm without distorting the aim, by a simple compression of the hand in which the device is held, thus moving the lever downwardly and squeezing the same into final contact with the side in which it is pivoted. When discharged, the device can be still held concealed in the hand or replaced in the pocket of the user. As a means of personal defense, this particular feature, whereby my improved pocket firearm can be aimed, fired without distorting the aim, and at all times held concealed in one hand of the user, is of the utmost importance in practice, and renders my device of great practical value. Heretofore pocket fire-arms of this type were incapable of being either aimed or fired at a target or mark with any degree of accuracy whatever, without the user employing two hands and also having the device visible. A further important advantage in mv present device is that no projections, exterior catches, slots in the knife casing etc., are ordinarily visible, such devices at once exposing the fact of a concealed fire-arm even when in combination with knife blades, when it is desired to have such a fire-arm concealed. By my construction the entire device bears the ex ternal appearance of an ordinary pocket knife without extra hinges, attachments, etc., excepting merely the firing lever and enables the fire-arm when desired, to be concealed. While this feature is incidental to my construction, it is sometimes very desirable from the point of view of the user.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the class described, having in combination, a pocket knife handle with an intermediate partition, a knife blade in one side of said partition and a cartridge receiving barrel pivoted at the other side of said partition within the knife handle, a spring actuated firing pin carried by said knife handle, and a combined trigger and firing lever constructed and arranged to set and release the firing pin by continuous movement in the same direction, caused by the compressive action of the hand of the user.

2. A combined pocket knife and firearm, comprising a pocket knife casing, knife blades in one side thereof, a barrel pivoted between the casing sides, said barrel being adapted to receive a cartridge and to be locked in its longitudinal firing position between the sides to which it is pivoted, a spring actuated firing pin to discharge said cartridge, and a lever pivotally mounted in the casing and having its shorter arm extending inwardly to engage said firing pin and to operate the same to fire the cartridge when the outwardly projecting longer arm of the lever is moved downwardly against that side of the casing in which it is pivoted by a compressive action of the operators hand.

3. A device of the kind described, comprising a pocket knife handle, a barrel to recei e a cartridge pivoted between the sides of said handle, a firing pin therefor carried by a sliding block moving in contact with the sides of the handle, a spring to actuate said sliding block, and a pin to fire the cartridge carried by said block, a lever pivoted in the sides of the handle. having one arm extending beyond the handle, and the other arm extended in position to enga e said block when the lever is compressed toward the handle, and spring actuated means on said block, to permit the lever to be raised without engaging the block, and to catch said lever and slide the block when the lever is pressed toward the handle. and means to release the block and firing pin to discharge a cartridge when the lever is pressed against the side of the handle in which it is pivoted.

4. In a pocket knife of the character de scribed having a handle, a barrel to receive a cartridge transversely pivoted between the sides of said handle, a firing pin therefor carried by a sliding block movable within said handle, a spring to actuate said block and pin to fire the cartridge, a lever pivoted in the handle, a spring pressed trigger carried by said block and pivotally held therein, and means on said trigger to be released from the lever when said block is moved against the tension of the spring and adapted to be released when it reaches the limit of its rearward movement, whereby the block carrying the trigger and firing pin is moved by said spring to discharge the cartridge.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a handle, a barrel to receive a cartridge pivoted therein, a firing pin therefor carried by a sliding block movable within said handle, a spring to actuate said block and pin to fire the cartridge, a lever pivoted in the handle and normally in horizontal contact therewith having a catch on its inner end, spring actuated means on the sliding block permitting said lever to be swung one way of the block and to engage therewith when returned to normal position and force the block backwardly, said means automatically releasing from the lever when the limit of rearward movement is reached, whereby the spring will act to slide the block within said handle and force the pin to fire a cartridge.

6. In a device of the class described, and in combination with a casing, a barrel, a firing pin carried by a sliding block movable within said casing, and a spring to actuate said sliding block, a lever controlling the operation of said sliding block, normally disengaged therefrom, said lever engaging said block when moved away from its normal position, and forcing said block backwardlv and subsequently automatically releasing the same when forced back to its normal position against the action of said spring.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a casing, a barrel to receive a cartridge movably mounted therein. a firing pin therefor carried by a sliding block movable within said casing, a spring to actuate said block and pin to fire the cartrid e, a lever pivotally mounted in said casing having an arm projecting outside of said casing and normally in horizontal contact therewith, and an arm projecting within said casing normally disengaged from said sliding block, said inner arm being adapted to engage said sliding block when said lever is swung away from its normal position, and to force said block backwardly, subsequently automatically releasing the same, when said lever is pressed back to its normal position against the action of said spring.

8. In a device of the class described. and in combination with a casing, a barrel and a firing mechanism mounted within said casing, said firing mechanism comprising a spring operated sliding block and a firing pin carried thereby, a level" pivotally mounted in said casing, controlling the operation of said sliding block, having an outwardly projecting arm normally in horizontal contact against one of the sides of said casing, said lever being adapted to be swung out of its normal position and to engage said block, and to operate said block when pressed back to its normal position against the action of c the operating spring.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LEO LOUIS ROGERS.

VVitnesse's:

JAMES R. HonDER, EDMUND C. MOORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

